Political issues cause cynicism | election 2014

By
SUE SMITH

Political issues cause cynicism | election 2014

THE Premier surprised all Tasmanians a fortnight ago when instead of the expected visit to Government House to request the Governor to start the formal process for elections, the visit was to request a recall of Parliament.

The purpose of the recall is a "Doubts Removal" Bill surrounding any proposed pulp mill at Longreach.

The second purpose of the visit was to inform the Governor that she had "sacked" two ministers and requested that the Governor withdraw their commission.

Regardless of your politics or your position on a potential pulp mill, no Tasmanian could be blamed for their cynicism over both these issues and some significant questions remain unanswered.

We presume this week more information may become available, but I fear once again the game playing, the name calling and the potential votes of no confidence (when we already know the result of the vote in the House of Assembly for this Bill) will again show the community that politics appears more important than people.

I hope the House of Assembly proves me wrong, but I doubt it.

Doubts Removal Bill

The Tasmanian Parliament can only legislate on areas within its jurisdiction.

As the proposed Longreach mill is covered by both Tasmanian and federal law where will potential litigants stand in the federal court system.

With both export licences and some environmental permits requiring federal government approval the threat has already been made by a potential litigant that they will test the Federal Court system.

Even if it is proven to be a time waster it is time that Tasmania with its current poor economic record does not have.

I am confident that government advisers would have aired this concern, but with a state election coming what a perfect opportunity to say "we fixed it - it is the federal government's fault".

The blame game of politics again.

The other issue is the timing.

While the Gunns receivers made the request in the spring of last year no action was taken.

With the expression of interest process now closed, discussion and advantage lies with a limited few.

How many stayed outside the EOI process because of "doubts" now being removed.

Is this unfair advantage for a brave few?

Ironically for the amount of money spent on the forestry shutdown debacle the Tasmanian people could have been major shareholders in a plantation-based pulp mill.

What a vote of confidence for other potential investors.

With the mill built and operational our share would have been valued much higher than the original investment and allowed a sell-off of shares to online our health, education and police.

A small state of 500,000 has to start to think strategically as to how we can remain sustainable as inevitably if we do not show willing to contribute to our own and the common wealth of Australia, soon the other participants in the Commonwealth may refuse to contribute to us.

Removal of ministers

The second issue of the sacking of two ministers begs the question - with two of the most significant portfolios of Education and Human Services, have the two ministers been lacking in their responsibilities in these areas?

If so why has it taken until two months out from an election to take action?

If they have performed as well as the rest of the ministerial team it makes a mockery of the whole ministerial process.

The irony is that with the Premier's move to recall Parliament for a "Doubts Removal" Bill, the two ministers would have had no choice but to resign because of their public stance on the pulp mill to show their stance was about belief not rhetoric.

However, interestingly, according to the parliamentary list of January 17, 2014, while we have had a change of ministers the positions and benefits of the deputy speaker/ chair of committee and the position of parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Education are still held by Green members - an oversight or just no one left to fill the positions?

It will indeed be an interesting week, but one as a past politician I fear I will not be proud of.